Remote control apparatus



Feb. 6, c w LL REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Feb; 14, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 1 m I? F 01 93 151 92 I Lg;

INVENTOR: Charles W- 581/,

Me ATTORNEY Feb. 6, 1934. Q w BELL 1,946,187

REMOTE CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 14, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR:

Charla 3 W. Ba,

M ATTORNEY l l'l l W l l l l l patented Feb. 6, 1934 'FFICE REMOTECONTROL APPARATUS Charles W. Bell, Wilkinsbnrg, Pa, assignor to TheUnion Switch dz Signal Company, Swissvale, ha, a corporation ofPennsylvania,

Application February 14, 1929, Serial No. 339,824

Renewed April 1, 1933 27 Claims.

My invention relates to remote control apparatus, and particularly toapparatus for safely controlling trafiic governing devices such asrailway switches and signals from a distant point.

5 One feature of my invention is the provision of means for separatelycontrolling over three conductors a railway switch and each of a pin--rality or signals associated with said switch, and also for separatelycontrolling over the same three conductors each of a plurality ofindicators associated with said switch and signals.

Specifically my invention is an improvement on that disclosed andclaimed in my prior application, Serial No. 279,636, filed May 19, 1928.for Remote controlling apparatus, and also on that disclosed and claimedin an application for Letters Patent Serial No. 279,962, filed May 19,1928, by Lester Spray, for Remote controlling apparatus.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention, and willth n point out the novel features thereof in claims.

The accompanying drawings, Figs. 1 and 2, when placed end to end withFig. l on the left. constitute a diagrammatic view showing one form ofapparatus embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character Y designates astretch of main railway track connected with a siding Z by means of aswitch F. Rails 1 and la of stretch Y are divided by means of joints 2to form approach track seciions rl-B and C-D, and detector track sectionBC. Each of the sections AB, B-C,

and 0-D is provided with a track circuit, which supplied with current bya battery 3 connected across the rails adjacent one end of the section,and which includes track relays G1, G2, or G3. respectively, connecteacross the rails adjacent the opposite end of the section. Relay G2 isprovided with a pick-up circuit including a back contact of relaydesignated by the reference character H, and with a stick circuitincluding a contact of relay G2. Slow releasing r peater relays g1 andg3 are contr -led by front contacts of "rack relays G1 and G3,respectively.

Switch F, as here shown, is operated by a motor M comprising an armature155 and a field winding 181. A circuit controller a is operated byswitch F, comprises contacts 1%, 172, and

52, which are closed only while sw ch F is in its normal position, thatis, while 5 tch F in a position for traffic to move over stretch Y only;and contacts 154 and 170 which are closed only while switch F is in itsreverse position, that while switch F is in the position for traihc tomove over stretch Y to or from siding Z. A- contact 32 which is operatedin conjunction with switch F is closed at all times except for a briefperiod just after the beginning, and for a second brief period justbefore the end, of the operation of switch F from one of these positionsto the. other. A contact 160, which is operated in conjunction withmotor M, engages a segment 15% at all times except while switch F is inits reverse position, and engages a segment 159a at all times exceptwhile switch F is in its normal position.

arms S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, and S7, which as here shown are of thesemaphore type, control the movement of traffic over switch F. 70 Eachof the signal arms S1, S3, S5, and S6, when in its clear position,provides a normal proceed signal indication, whereas each or" the armsS2, S4, and S7 when in its clear position provides a call-on signalindication. Eastbound moves, that is, moves toward the right as shown inthe drawings, are governed by signal arms S3 and S4. when switch F isnormal, and by signal arms S1 and S2 when switch F is reversed. Signalarms S5 and S7 govern westbound moves, that is, moves toward the left asshown in the drawings, over switch F normal, and arms S6 and S7 governwestbound moves over switch F reversed. Signal arms Sl, S2, S3, S4, S5,S6 and S7 operate circuit controller contacts 74, 80, 72, '78, '70, 69and 76, respectively. Each of these contacts is closed only while therespective signal arm is in its stop position.

The operation of switch F by motor M is controlled by a polarized relayp, which is in turn controlled in part by a slow-releasing polarizedswitch relay P and in part by relays designated by the referencecharacters E and R. The op eration of switch F is toward the normal orthe reverse position according as relay 1) is energized in its normal orits reverse direction. Relay E is so controlled and in turn so controlsrelay 1) as to provide approa h locking of switch F when signal arm S3or S5 is cleared, and to provide stick locking of is cleared. Theapproach and stick locking of switch F can be released by theenergization of relay E through a pick-up circuit controlled by amanually operable device L which as here shown is of the push-buttoncontact type. Re- 105 lay R is of a type having quick release and slow pl -up characteristics. One form of relay of this type, upon becoming(lo-energized, opens its front contacts after the lapse of only afraction of a second of time, but upon becoming 11f switch F when arm S1or S6 energized does not close its front contacts until a period of fromtwenty-five to thirty seconds of time has elapsed. Relay R is socontrolled by call-on arms S2, S4 and S7, and in turn so controls relayp as to provide time locking of switch F when any one of the callon armsS2, S4 and S7 is cleared. The control of relay p by relays E and R isaccomplished by means of front contacts of relays E and R included in apick-up circuit for relay p, and by back contacts of relays E and Rincluded in polarized stick circuits for relay p.

Signal arrns S1, S3, S5 and S6 are controlled by a slow-releasingpolarized. signal relay H, arms S1 and S3 being governed by relay Henergized in one direction, and arms S5 and S6 being governed by relay Henergized in the opposite direction. Call-on arms S2, S4 and S7 arecontrolled by a stick relay 7? as well as by signal relay H. Relay t isin turn controlled in part by a call-on relay T.

A signal back locking relay K is controlled by contacts 74, 72, and 69which are operated by arms S1, S3, S5 and S6, respectively.

Switch relay P is controlled by current supplied cver a first conductor27 and a common conductor 37 by means including battery Q1 or Q2, and amanually operable device here shown as lever V1. Signal relay H andcall-on relay T are controlled by current supplied over a thirdconductor 34 and the common conductor 37 by means including battery Q1or Q2, and a second manually operable lever V2. Levers V1 and V2 may bearranged in some central location such as a train despatchers office.

Lever V1 has two positions 12 and T, and operates contacts 25 and 149which are closed only while lever V1 is in its 17. or its r position,respectively. Lever V2 has three positions m, n, and r, and operatescontacts 90, 1 10 and 137 which are closed only while lever V2 is in itsm, n, or r positions, respectively.

Indication relays, designated by the reference characters N1 and N2, aresupplied with current in series with the winding of relay P, relay N1being responsive only to current of greater mag nitude than that whichis required for the operation of relays N2 or P. Current of suflicientmagnitude to operate relay N1 is supplied through the windings of relaysN1 and N2 only when relays G1 and g1 form a shunt path around thewinding of relay P, thus reducing the resistance of the circuit. RelayN2 responds to the opening of the circuit through its winding by acong3. becomes energized by current from a battery Q5 -tery Q1 or Q2while a front contact of a callon push-button, designated by thereference character U, is closed when lever V2 is in either its m or 1"position, respectively. Relay N3 is responsive only to current ofgreater magnitude than that which is required for the operation of relayH, and therefore does not close its front contacts until a branch pathis formed around the windings of relay H and T by relays While lever V2is in its 12 position, relay N3 when a branch path is closed around thewindings of relays H and T by relays G3 and 93.

While a resistance unit 91 and the winding of relay N3 are included inthe circuit through the winding of relay T when the front contact of push-button U is closed, the current flowing through relay T is not ofsufficient magnitude to cause relay T to close its front contacts. If,however, the despatcher depresses p ush-button U,

opening its front contact and closing its back contact, and therebycompleting a branch path around resistance 91 and relay N3, theresistance of the circuit is so reduced as to permit sufficient currentto flow to cause relay T to close its front contacts.

Indicators, here shown as electric lamps e1, c2 and 63, are controlledby indication relays N1, N2 and N3, respectively.

Batteries Q3 and Q4 supply current for operating switch F, signal armsS, and relays g, p, t, K, R and E.

Having thus described, in general, the arrangement and location of thevarious parts comprising my invention, 1 will now describe the operationof the apparatus.

As shown in the drawings, all parts are in their normal. condition, thatis, each of the levers V1 and V2 is in its n position, sr itch F is inits normal position, signal arms S are in the stop position, and tracksections A-B, B-C, and CD are unoccupied. With the track sectionsunoccupied, relays G1, G2 and G3 are ener ized. Current flowing throughthe winding of relay G2 passes through its pick-up circuit includingwires 47 and 49, contact 59 of relay H, wires 51 and 52, the winding ofrelay G2, and wire 53. At the same time, a stick circuit for relay G2 isclosed, passing from wire 47, through contact 43 of relay G2, wire 52,and the winding of relay G2 to wire 53. With relay G1 energized, relayg1 is energized by its cir cuit passing from battery Q3, through wires4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 11, contact 12a of relay G1, wire 13,

- winding of relay g1, and wires 14, 15, 16 and 17 back to battery Q3.Relay g3 is energized by a similar circuit which is controlled by frontcontact 19a of relay G3.

With signal arms S1, S3, S5 and S6 in their stop position, relay K isenergized by its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6,

7, 9, 10, 13 and 68, contacts 69 and 70 of arms S6 and S5 respectively,wire 71, contact 72 of arm S3, wire 73, contact 74 of arm S1, wire 75,winding of relay K, and wires 22, 15, 15 and 17 back to battery Q3. Withsignal arms S2, S4 and S7 in their stop position, relay R is energizedby its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10,18 and 63, contact 76 of arm S7, wire 77, contact 78 of arm Si, wire 79, contact 80 of arm S2, wire 31, winding of relay R, and wires 32 andWith switch F in its nor- 46 back to battery Q3. inal position, and withrelays K, G1, and G3 energized, relay E is energized by its pick-upcircuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, contact55 of relay K, wires c6 and 57, contact 58 of relay G1, wire 59, contact60 of relay G3, wire 61, contact 62 of circuit controller a, wire 63,winding of relay E, and wires 64 and 46 back to battery Q3.

With lever V1 in its n position, relays N2 and P are energized bycurrent iiowing from battery Q1, through wires 23 and 24, contact 25 oflever V1, wire 25, windings of relays N2 and N1, wire 27, contact 28 ofrelay G2, wires 29 and 30, winding of relay P, wire 31, contact 32, andwires 33, .1;

35, 36' and 37 back to battery Q1. With relay N2 energized, lamp c2 islighted by current flowing from battery Q1, through wires 23, 83, 84 and85, contact 86 of relay N2, wire 87, filament of lamp e2, and wires 88and 89 back to battery Q1, thus indicating to the despatcher thatdetector section B-C is unoccupied. Relay P is energized in the normaldirection while lever V1 is in its 9 position, and relay p is thereforeenergized in its normal direction by current flowing from battery Q3,through wires 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 38, contacts 39a and 40a of relay P,wire 41, contact 42a of relay E, wire 43, contact 44a of relay B, wire45, winding of relay p, and wire 46 back to battery Q3.

I will assume that with all parts in their normal condition asdescribed, an eastbound train deenergizes relay G1. Relay N1 thenbecomes operated by current flowing in the circuit previously traced,from battery Q1, through wires 23 and 24, and contact 25 of lever V1 asfar as wire 29, thence through wire 123, contact 124 of relay G1, wire125, contact 126 of relay g1, and wire 37 back to battery Q1. Withcontact 129 of relay N1 closed, lamp e1 is lighted by its circuitpassing from battery Q1, through wires 23, 33, 84, 127 and 123, contact129 of relay N1, wire 130, filament of lamp c1, and wires 131, 88 and 89back to battery Q1. Relay G1, upon becoming deenergized, not only opensits contact 12a in the circuit previously traced for relay 91, but alsocloses its contact 12b which completes a shunt path across the windingof relay g1. This shunt path passes from the winding of relay g1,through wire 13, contact 12?), and wires 264, 82, 46, 17, 16, 15 and 14back to the winding of relay 91. After a brief period of time haselapsed following the cle-energization of relay G1, slow releasing relayg1 opens the branch path at contact 126, causing relay N1 to open itscontact 129 and thus extinguish the light of approach lamp e1.

If, with all parts again in their normal condition, a westbound trainde-energizes relay G3, relay N3 becomes energized by its circuit passingfrom battery Q5, through contact 1225 of relay H, wire 121, contact 120of relay g3, wire 119, contact 113 of relay G3, wi e 117, contact 116 ofrelay G2, wires 115 and 94, front contact of push button U, wire 93,winding of relay N3, wires 92 and 14 1, contact 140 of lever V2, andwires 139, 39, 37 and 36 back to battery Q5. With relay N3 energized,lamp e3 is lighted by its circuit passing from battery Q1, through wires23, 83, 34, 127 and 132, contact 133 of relay N3, wire 134, lamp e3, andwires 135, 131, 38 and 39 back to battery Q1. Relay G3, upon becomingdeenergized, opens its contact 19a in the control circuit for relay g3,and closes its contact 195 which completes a shunt path across thewinding of relay g3 similarly to the manner in which contact 12b ofrelay G1 completes a shunt path across the winding r relay oi as alreadydescribed. After a brief period, slow releasing relay g3 opens itscontact 129, thus breaking the circuit for relay N3, which thereuponopens its contact 133, extinguishing lamp e3. Relay g3 also closes itscontact 991;, thereby completin around its contact 99a and contact 97aof relay G3, a branch path including contact 935, wire 203, and contact975 of relay G3.

I will now assume that, with all parts again in their normal condition,the despatcher desires to clear signal arm S5 for a move over switch Fin its normal position. He therefore operates lever V2 to its mposition, causing relay H to become energized in the normal direction byitscircuit passing from battery Q1, through wires 23 and 83, contact 90of lever V2, resistor 91, wire 92, winding of relay N3, wire 93, frontcontact of push-button U, wire 94, winding of relay T, wires 95 and 96,contact 970. of relay G3, wire 98, contact 99a of relay g3, wire 100,winding of relay H, and wires 34, 35, 36 and 37 back to battery Q1.Relay H, upon becoming energized, completes around contacts 97a and 99aof relays G3 and g3 respectively, a branch path passing from wire 95,through wire 101, and contact 192 of relay H to the winding of relay H.With relay I-I energized in its normal direction while switch F is inits normal position, signal arm S5 becomes operated to its proceedposition by its circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6,7, 9, and 10, contacts 103 and 104a, of relay P, wire 105, contact 106of circuit controller a, wire 107, contacts 108 and 109a of relay I-I,wire 110, contact 111 of relay G1, wire 112, operating mechanism of armS5, wire 113, contact 1142) of relay t, and wires 147, 16 and 17 back tobattery Q3.

11, now a westbound train de-energizes relay G3, relay N3 is operated bycurrent flowing from battery Q1, through the circuit traced for relay Has far as wire 94, thence through wire 115, contact 116 of relay G2,wire 117, contact 118 of relay G3, wire 119, contact 120 of relay g3,wire 121, contact 122a of relay H, and wires 35, 36 and 37 back tobattery Q1. With relay N3 energized, lamp 23 becomes lighted by itscircuit as previously traced. After a brief period of time has elapsed,slow releasing relay 93 opens its contact 126 causing relay N3 to againbecome de-energized and extinguish lamp e3.

1 wiil now assume that, with signal arm S5 in its proceed position andwith relay G3 deenergized by an approaching westbound train, thedespatcher finds it necessary to change the route and send the train tosiding Z over switch F reversed instead of along stretch Y over switch Fnormal. He therefore operates lever V2 to its in position,lie-energizing relay H and causing arm S5 to return to its stopposition. Relay E, having been de-energized by the previous opening ofcontact of relay K, continues de-energized due to contact of relay G3being open, and hence a stick circuit for relay p is closed, passingfrom battery Q3, through wire 4, contact 196a of relay p, wires 197, 198and. 200, contact 42b of relay E, wire 43, contact 44a of relay R, wire45, winding of relay and wire 46 back to battery Q3. In order toenergize relay E so as to permit relay p to be energized in its reversedirection, one of the trainmen will now operate push-button L, thuscompleting a pick-up circuit for relay E, passing from battery Q3,through wires 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, contact 55 of relay K, wires 56, 57 and65, contact of pushbutton L, winding of relay E, and wires 64 and 46back to battery Q3. With signal arms S1, S3, S5 and S6 now in their stopposition, relay K is energized, and relay E, after being energized byits pick-up circuit just traced, continues energized by its stickcircuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, contact55 of relay K, wires 56, 57, and 66, contact 67 of relay E, winding ofrelay E, and wires 64 and 46 back to battery Q3.

The despatcher now operates lever V1 to its r position, causing relay Pto become energized in the reverse direction by its circuit passing frombattery Q2, through wires 37, 36, 35 and 33, contact 32 of switch F,wire 31, winding of relay P,

wires 30 and 29, contact 28 of relay G2, wire '27,

winding of relay N1, winding of relay N2, wire 26, contact 1 19 of leverV1, and wire 150 back to battery Q2. With relay P energized in thereverse direction, relay p also becomes energized in the reversedirection by its circuit passing from battery Q4, through wire 46,winding of relay p, wire 45, contact 44a of relay R, wire 13, contact42a of relay E, wire 41, contacts 40d and 39b of relay P, and wire 205back to battery Q4.

With relay p energized in its reverse direction, current is supplied tomotor M by batteries Q3 and Q4 in series, through a circuit passing frombattery Q3, through wires 1, 5 and 151, and contacts 152 and 1541) ofrelay wire 155, armature 156 of motor 1V1, wire 157, contact 1582; ofrelay p,

segment 15% and contact 160 of motor M, field winding 161 of motor M,and wire 162 to battery Q4. Motor M now operates switch F to its reverseposition. Just aiter the beginning, and again just before the end of theoperation of switch F, contact 32 opens the circuit for relay P, causingrelay N2 to open its front contact 86 for similar brief periods afterthe beginning and before the end oi the operation of switch F. Theopening of contact 86 causes lamp 622 to go out for a brief period afterthe beginning and again for a brief period before the end of theoperation of switch F, thus indicating to the despatcher by the twounlighted periods of lamp c2 that switch F has started, and afterwardcompleted its operation. As the operation of switch F is beingcompleted, contact 166 disengages segment 15%, thus opening theoperating circuit of motor M.

The despatcher now operates lever V 2 to its m position, causing relay Hto become energized in its normal direction. With relay H thus energizedand with switch F in its reverse position, signal arm. S6 is operated toits proceed position by its circuit passing from battery Q3, throughwires l, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 16, contacts 163 and 1642) of relay P, wire 163,contact 164. of circuit controller a, wire 165, contacts 166 and 167a ofrelay H, wires 166 and 169, operating mechanism of arm S6, wire 113,contact 11 12) of relay t, and wires 147, 16 and 17 back to battery Q3.

When the train, upon passing signal S6, deenergizes relay G2, thecircuit through the windings of relays N2 and P is opened at contact 26of relay G2, causing relay P to be de-energized and also causing relayN2 to become de-energized and extinguish lamp 62. Since lamp e2continues unlighted for a considerable period or time, the despatcherknows that section B-C is occupied. Relay P, upon becoming de-energized,

opens its contact 40a in a reverse pick-up circuit previously traced forrelay p, and then closes its contact 407). Relay P, upon becomingde-energized, also opens its contact 103 in the operating circuit forarin S6, and arm S6 therefore returns to its stop position, closing, atits ccntact 69, the circuit for relay K which is then again energized. Athird pick-up circuit is now completed for relay E comprising the firstpick up circuit for relay E except passing from wire 56, through wire193, contact 194.- of relay and wire 195 to wire 63. When relay becomesenergized, as just described, another reverse stick circuit is completedfor relay p, passing from battery Q4, through wire 16, winding of relayp, wire 45, contact 44a of relay R, wire 43, contact 42aof relay E, wire1, contact 16b of relay wires 199, 198 and 197, and contact 19617 or"relay 1) back to battery Q4.

If, while relay G2 is de-energized, the despatcher desires to give acall-on indication for a train to enter section B-C, he will depresspush-button U for a brief period, and, assuming that lever V2 is stillin its m position, he will thus cause relay T to become energized by thecircuit previously traced for relay H except including, around resistor91 and the winding of relay N3, a branch path passing from contact 96 orlever V2, through wire 136, and the back contact or" push-button U.Relay T, upon becoming energized, closes a pick-up circuit for relay t,passing from battery Q3, through wires 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, contact 160 ofrelay K, wires 181 and 162, contact 183 of relay '1, wire 184, windingof relay t, and wires 189 and 17 back to battery Q3. Relay 15, uponbecoming energized, completes its stick circuit which includes itsick-up circuit just traced as far as wire 181, thence through wire 185,contact 186 of relay E, wire 187, and contact 188 of relay t to thewinding of relay t.

With relay t energized, and with relay H energized in the normaldirection, signal arm S7 now becomes operated to its call-on position byits circuit passing from battery Q3, through wires 1, 5, 6 and 196,contact 191 of relay 1', wire 1592, contact 1641) or relay P, wire 163,contact 164 of circuit controller a, wire 165, contacts 166 and 167a ofrelay 11, wire 168, contact 170 of circuit controller a, wire 173,operating mechanism of arm S7, wire 17%, contact 114a of relay t, andwires 1 7, 16 and 17 back to battery When arm S7 leaves its stopposition, the circuit for slow pick-up relay R is opened at contact 76or" arm S7, and hence relay R opens its front contact isa in the pick-upcircuit for relay p, and closes its back contact 442) in a reverse stickcircuit for relay p passing from battery (.234, through wire -16,winding of relay 10, wire 15, contact 441; of relay R, wire 197, andcontact 1516b of relay 39 back to battery Q4.

11", after section B--C is again unoccupied, the despatcher returnslever V2 to its "/z position, causing arm S7 to return to its topposition, having the intention of at once returning switch F to itsnormal position, the time locking of switch F becomes effective throughslow pick-up relay R which will not close its front contact for ameasured interval of time after arm S7 has returned to its stop positionand completed the circuit for relay R.

Stick operation of signal arms S1, S3, S5 and S6 is rovided by thecircuit for relay G2. When a train has moved through section B--C, causing arm S1, S3, S5, or S6 to indicate stop, relay G2 will becomeenergized again only when lever V2 has been returned to its a positioncausing the pick-up ci cuit for relay G2 to be completed at contact 50of relay 1i. As long as section B C is unoccupied, relay G2 will thencon tinue energized by its stick circuit, after relay H again becomesenergized and opens the pickup circuit for relay G2.

in order to clear eastbound signal S1 or S3, the despatcher operateslever V2 to its 1' position, thus supplying current in reverse directionfrom battery Q2, through wire 138, and contact 137 or" lever V2 to thecircuit previously traced for relay H.

The operation of call-on arm S2 or S4. while lever V2 is in its 1*position is accomplished by the manipulation of push-button U, similarlyto the manner in which the operation of call-on arm S7 is accomplishedby push-button U while lever V2 is in its m position.

If the despatcher should desire to return switch F to its normalposition, lever V2 having been previously returned to its n position andeach of the relays E and B being energized by one of its circuitspreviously traced, he will return lever V1 to its a position, therebycausing relay P to be energized in its normal direction. With relayenergised in its normal direction, relay 3) is also energized in thenormal direction, causing operating current to be supplied in the normaldirection to motor M by batteries Q3 and Q4, through a circuit passingfrom battery Q3, through wires 4, 5 and 151, contacts 152 and 158a ofrelay p, wire 157, armature oi motor M, wire 155, contact 154s ofsegment 159a and contact 16% of motor winding 161 of motor M, and wire162 to battery Q4. Motor M then moves switch F to its normal position.Just before the completion of this op eration, contact 160 disengagessegment 159a thereby breaking the motor circuit.

From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it will benoted that my present invention, employing only three conductorsextending between the despatchers office and the location of a switchand accompanying signals, provides control of the switch, control ofeach normal proceed signal and of each call-on signal separately fromthat of each other normal proceed signal and each other call-on signaland also separately from that or" the switch, separate control of eachof two approach indications, a detector circuit indication control, anda switch indication control. It will be noted that my invention alsoprovides approach locking of switch F when signal arm 53 or so iscleared, stick locking of switch F when arm S1 or so is cleared, andtime locking of switch 1 when callon arm S2, S4, or S7 is in its call-onposition.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of remotecontrol apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. A remote control system comprising a railway switch, a signal forgoverning the movement of traffic over said switch, a first and a secondand a common conductor, a first and a second manually operable means, afirst and a second and a third track section, a switch relay, a signalrelay, afirst and a second and a third indication relay, a circuitincluding said first and common conductors and said first and secondindication relays as well as a source of current and said switch relayin series, means for controlling said switch relay by said firstmanually operable means, means for controlling said first indicationrelay by said switch and according to trafiic conditions in said firsttrack section, means for controlling said second indication relayaccording to traific conditions in said second track section, a secondcircuit including said second and common conductors and said thirdindication relay as well as a source of current and said signal relay inseries, means for controlling said signal relay by said second manuallyoperable means,

means for controlling said third indication relay according to trafficconditions in said third track section, indication means controlled bysaid first and second and third indication relays respectively, meansfor controlling said switch by said switch relay and according totrafiic conditions in said first and second and third track sections,and means for controlling said signal by said signal relay when saidswitch is in a given position.

2, A remote control system comprising a railswitch, a signal forcontrolling the movement of traific over said switch, a first and asecond and a common conductor, a and a second oually operable lever, afirst and a second apch track section and a detector track section, ackcircuit for each of said sections each including a track relay, a switchrelay, a first and a and a t indication relay, a signal rea circuitincluding said first and common conductors and said first and secondindication relays as well as a source of current and said switch relayin series, means for controlling said switch relay by said first lever,means for controlling said first indication relay by said switch and bysaid detector track relay, means for controlling said second indicationrelay by said second approach track relay, a second circuit includingsaid second and common conductors and said third indication relay aswell as a source of current and said signal relay in series, means forcontrolling said signal relay by said second lever, means forcontrolling said third indication relay by said first approach trackrelay, indication means controlled by said first and second and thirdindication relays respectively, means for controlling said switch bysaid switch relay and by said detector track section relay as well as bysaid first and second approach track section relays, and means forcontrolling said signal by said signal relay when said switch is in agiven position.

3. A remote control system comprising a railway switch, a signal forcontrolling the movement or" traffic over said switch, a first and asecond and a common conductor, a first and a second manually operablelever, a first and a second approach track section and a detector tracksection, a track circuit for each of said sections each includa trackrelay, a switch relay, a first and a second and a third indicationrelay, a signal relay, a ci'cuit including said first and commonconductors and said first and second indication relays as well as asource of current and said switch relay in series, means for controllingsaid switch relay by said first lever, means for controlling firstindication relayby said switch and by said detector track relay, meansfor controlling said second indication relay by said second ap- 7 proachtrack relay, a second signal relay, a manually operable contact, asecond circuit including second and common conductors and said thirdindication relay as well as a source of current and said and secondsignal relays in series, means for controlling said first signal relayby said second lever, means for controlling said second signal relay bysaid manually operable contact, means for controlling said thirdindication relay by said first approach track relay, indication meanscontrolled by said first and second and third indication relaysrespectively, means for controlling said switch by said switch relay andby said detector track section relay as well as by said first and secondapproach track section relays, means for controlling a first indicationof said signal by said first signal relay when said switch is in a givenposition, and means for controlling a second indication of said signalby sa d second signal relay.

4. In combination with a railway signal capable of displaying either anormal proceed indication or a call-on indication, a home relay, acall-on relay responsive only to current of greater magnitude than thatwhich is required for the operation of said home relay, a resistanceunit, a circuit including said home and call-on relays and saidresistance unit in series, a manually operable contact by which a shuntpath of low resistance can be closed around said resistance unit in saidcircuit, a source which while said shunt path is open supplies saidcircuit with current of sumcient magnitude to operate said home relaybut not said call-on relay, but which source while said shunt path isclosed supplies said circuit with current of sufiicient magnitude tooperate said call-on relay as well as said home relay, means forcontrolling said normal proceed signal indication by said home relay, astick relay, a pick-up circuit for said stick relay controlled by afront contact of said call-on relay, a stick circuit for said stickrelay controlled by a front contact of said home relay, and meansincluding said stick relay for controlling said call-on signalindication.

5. In combination with a railway switch, a signal capable of displayingeither a normal proceed indication or a call-on indication for governingthe movement of traific over said switch, means for controlling theoperation of said switch, means for controlling said normal proceedsignal indication, means including a manually operable device forcontrolling said call-on signal indication, locking means for at timespreventing the operation of the switch when said signal has ceased todisplay said proceed indication, and

means including a slow pick-up relay for preventing the operation ofsaid switch until a measured interval of time has elapsed after saidsignal has ceased to display said call-on indication.

6. In combination with a railway switch, a normal proceed signal armhaving a proceed and a stop position, a call-on signal arm having aproceed and a stop position, means forcontrolling said normal proceedsignal arm, means for controlling said call-on signal arm, a lockingrelay controlled by said proceed signal arm for at times preventing theoperation of the switch, a contact operated by said call-on arm andarranged to be closed when said call-on arm is in its stop position, aslow pick-up relay controlled by said contact, a switch control circuitincluding a source of current and front contacts of said slow pick-uprelay and of said locking relay, and means for controlling said switchby said switch control circuit.

7. In combination with a railway signal capable of displaying either aproceed or a stop indication, a control circuit for said signal,manually operable means for at times reducing the resistance of saidcircuit, means for causing said signal to display said proceed or saidstop indication according as the resistance of said circuit is reducedor is not reduced, and means effective only so long as said controlcircuit remains closed for causing said signal to continue to displaysaid proceed indication after the resistance of said circuit isrestored.

8. In combination with a first and a second railway signal, a controlcircuit for said signals, means for at times reducing the resistance ofsaid circuit, means for operating said first or said second signalaccording as the resistance of said circuit is reduced or is notreduced, and means effective only so long as said control circuitremains closed by maintaining said first signal in operated conditionafter the resistance of said circuit is restored.

9. In combination with a first and a second railway signal, a relay, asecond relay responsive only to current of greater magnitude than isrequired for the operation of said first relay, a circuit including saidfirst and second relays in series means for at times supplying saidcircuit with current of sufiicient magnitude to operate said first relaybut not said second relay, means for at other times supplying saidcircuit with current of sufiicient magnitude to operate said secondrelay as well as said first relay, means for operating said first signalwhen a front contact of said first relay only is closed, means foroperating said second signal when a front contact of said second relayas well as a front contact of said first relay is closed, and meanseffective when said second signal has been operated for maintaining itin its operated condition so long as the front contact of said firstrelay is closed.

10. In combination, a railway track switch, a main signal governingtrafiic movements over said switch, a second signal governing trafficmovements over said switch, a manually controllable device, a releasingdevice controlled by said manually controllable device and by said mainsignal for controlling said switch, and a slow-acting device controlledby said second signal independently of said releasing device forcontrolling said switch.

11. In combination, a railway track switch, a main signal governingtraiiic movements over said switch, a second signal governing traficmovements over said switch, approach locking means for said switchcontrolled by said main signal, and a slow-acting device controlled bysaid second signal but not by said main signal for controlling saidswitch.

12. In combination, a railway track switch, a v

main signal governing traffic movements over said switch, a secondsignal governing trafiic movements over said switch, approach lockingmeans for said switch controlled by said main signal, and a time lockingdevice controlled independently of said approach locking means by saidsecond signal for controlling said switch.

13. In combination, a railway track switch, a main si nal governingtraffic movements over said switch, a second signal governing tramcmovements over said switch, a track circuit including a track relay, astick relay having a pickup and a stick circuit one of which iscontrolled by said track relay and the other of which is controlled bysaid main signal, a slow-acting device controlled by said second signalindependently of said stick relay, and means controlled by said stickrelay and by said slow-acting device for controlling said switch.

14. In combination, a railway track switch, a

main signal governing traflic movements over said switch, a call-onsignal governing trafiic movements over switch, a manually controlabledevice, a stick relay having a pick-up and a stick circuit one of whichis controlled by said manually controllable device and the other ofwhich is controlled by said main signal, a slow acting device controlledby said call-on signal but not by said main signal, and means controlledby said relay and by said slow-acting device for controlling saidswitch.

15. In combination, a railway traflic governing device, a second railwaytrafiic governing device controlled by said first device, a trackcircuit including a track relay for controlling one or the an cal otherof said devices, a second track circuit including a track relay forcontrolling one or the other of said devices, a first and a second and athird conductor, a first and a second indication instrument, a circuitincluding said first and third conductors for controlling said firstdevice and said first instrument, and a circuit including said secondand third conductors for controlling said second device and said secondinstrument.

16. In combination with a stretch of railway track, a main signal and asecond signal for governing the movement or" traffic through saidstretch, a main relay and a second relay adjacent said signals, a signallever a point for governing said signals, a line circuit including bothsaid relays and contacts conti lied by lever, said circuit alsoincluding a source of en-- ergy and a resistor so proportioned with tosaid relays as to permit the main relay to pick up when the circuit isclosed but to not permit the second relay to pick up unless saidresistor is shunted, a manually operable key adjacent said leverefiective when closed to shunt said r sistor, a circuit for clearing themain signal closed when the main relay is picked up provided the stretchis unoccupied, a circuit for clearing the second signal closed when thesecond relay is picked up provided the main signal does not clear, andmeans for maintaining said second circuit closed irrespective of thecondition of said second relay, provided the main relay is picked up andthe main signal does not clear.

17. In combination, a railway track switch, a main signal and a secondsignal for governing the movement of traffic over said switch, manuallyoperable means for controlling said switch, means for governing saidmain si nal, means in cluding a manually operable device for governingsaid second signal, approach locking means for said switch controlled bysaid main signal, a slow acting device controlled by said second signalbut not by said main signal, and means including said approach lockingmeans and said slow acting de vice for at times preventing the operationof said switch by said manually o" erable means.

18. In combination with a railway track switch, a main signal and asecond signal for governing the movem nt of trafiic over the switch andeach having a proceed and a stop position, manually operable controlmeans for operating the switch and for governing said signals, appreachlocking means effective to delay the operation of the switch providedsaid main signal is restored to its stop position by the operation ofsaid control means when a train is approaching within a predetermineddistance of the switch, and time locking means effective to delay theoperation of the switch for a fixed time interval after said secondsignal is restored to its stop position even though no train isapproaching within such predetermined distance of the switch.

19. In combination with a detector section of railway track including atrack switch, a main signal and a second signal for governing themovement of tramc through said cete tor section, an approach section oftrack adjacent said detector section occupied by a train approachingsaid main signal, means for operating said switch, approach lockingmeans for preventing the op eration of the switch provided signal isoperated to its most restrictive condition when said approach section isoccupied and said detector section is not occupied, means for preventingthe operation of the switch when the detector section is occupied, andmeans for delaying the operation of the switch for a fixed time intervalafter said second signal is restored to its loo-st restrictive conditioneven though said approach and detector sections are both unoccupied.

21' In combination with a railway track switch, a main signal and asecond signal for governing the movement of tradic over the switch, eachhaving a contact closed only when such signal is in its most restrictivecondi on, a locking relay controlled by the contact or" the main sigial,a slow acting device controlled by the contact of the second signal butnot by the contact of the main signal, and a circuit for controlling theswitch including contacts of said locking relay and of said slow actingdevice.

21. In combination, a railway track switch, a main signal and a secondsignal for governing the movement of over the switch, approach lockingmeans for said switch controlled by said main signal, and a slow pickuprelay controlled said second signal but not by said main signal forcontrolling said switch.

22. In combination, a railway track switch, a first railway signalgoverning trafiic over said switch, a stick relay controlled by saidsignal and by traffic conditions, a second railway signal governingtraffic over said switch, a time element device controlled by saidsecond signal but not by said first signal, and means controlled by saidstick relay and by said time element device for governing said switch.

23. In combination, a stretch of railway track including a main tracksection and a siding joined to a single tracl; section by a sectioncontaining a track switch, a main signal and a second signal forgoverning the movement of traffic over said switch from said main tracksection and from said siding, respectively, into said single tracksection, approach locking means controlled in accordance with thecondition of said main signal and the condition of main track sectionfor controlling said switch, and a slow acting device controlled inaccordance with the condition of said second signal for controlling saidswitch.

24. In combination, a stretch of railway track including a main tra ksection and a siding joined to a single tracir section by a sectioncontaining a track switch, a main signal and a second signal forgoverning the movement of traffic over said switch from said main tracksection and from said siding, respectively, into said single tracksection, approach locking means controlled in accordance with thecondition of said main signal and the condition or" said main tracksection for controlling said switch, and a time element devicecontrolled in accordance with the condition of said second signalindependently of said approach locking means for controlling saidswitch.

25. In combination, a stretch of railway track including a main tracksection and a siding joined to a single track section by a detectorsection containing a track switch, a main signal and a second signal forgoverning the movement of traflic over said switch from said main tracksec tion and from said siding, respectively, into said single tracksection, circuits for said signals controlled in accordance with theposition of the switch arranged to permit only one signal to be clearedat a time, manually operable means for controlling said circuits, switchlocking means effective when a signal has been cleared to preventoperation of the switch, means efiective when the main signal isrestored to its most restrictive condition to release said locking meansprovided only said main track section is unoccupied, and means effectivewhen the second signal is restored to its most restrictive condition torelease said locking means at the end of a predetermined time interval.

26. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a main signal and acall-on signal for governing the movement of tramc through said stretch,a control relay and a stick relay, a signal circuit for clearing saidmain signal including a front contact of said control relay and acontact controlled in accordance with trafiic conditions in saidstretch, a signal circuit for clearing said callon signal including afront contact of said stick relay, means including a signal lever at aremote point for energizing said control relay, means associated withsaid lever for picking up said stick relay provided said main signal isin its most restrictive condition, and a stick circuit for said stickrelay including its own front contact and closed only when said controlrelay is energized and said main signal is in its most restrictivecondition.

27. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a main signal and acall-on signal for governing the movement of trafiic through saidstretch, a control relay, a signal circuit for clearing said main signalincluding a front contact of said control relay and a contact controlledin accordance with trafiic conditions in said stretch, a signal circuitfor clearing said call-on signal including a front contact of saidcontrol relay, means including a signal lever at a remote point forenergizing said control relay, a call-on relay, and manually operablemeans associated with said lever for energizing said call-on relay and astick relay controlled by said call-on relay for eiTecting the closingof the circuit for said call-on signal in the event that said mainsignal fails to clear when said control relay is energized.

CHARLES W. BELL.

